My first trip report, still in progress. I am flying SFO-ICN-BKK-DEL, then DEL-BOM on Jet Airways (hopeful - if the strike does not snarl that itin), and BOM-SIN-SFO.

This post contains SFO-ICN-BKK...sorry no photos, was not feeling snappy. I was seated in business class for all inbound legs to Delhi thanks to operational upgrades Well, I bought the upgrade on OZ, but TG was an operational on both legs.

Asiana 213, SFO-ICN
Sked Dep, SFO: 1:00A
Actual Dep, SFO: 12:50A
Sked Arr, ICN: 6:45A
Actual Arr, ICN: 7:10A
Boeing 777-200

I boarded this 777 and took my seat, a window. The flight had a light load - about 1/2 or less full in Y, maybe about that in Biz, I did not have a seat mate. This is my first trip on OZ as I would normally take SQ or UA to Asia but the connection OZ worked better in this case and based on my experience, I would take them again without pause. OZ's biz class seats on the 777 are all electronic - more on that later.

First remarks: service gets an A+++++++++. The cabin staff are VERY attentive, remember your name, and go out of their way to make you comfortable. I had read mixed reviews on OZ's biz class - this is their newer 777, but SFO-ICN is not operated with the flat-bed equipped aircraft. Still, I found the seat and its amenities amazingly comfortable - I fell asleep for about 9 hours which is quite rare for me, but not before a meal

After a delayed takeoff due to thick fog, the cabin crew quickly began prep for dinner with lights on 100%. No amenity kits were distributed but slippers were available in the seat pocket. I find it quite odd that OZ force a meal on everyone at that hour in the morning - CX, for example, in business anyway - turn the lights out but do a dinner service very quietly. If you wish to partake, they make it quick. If not, the lights are out and aside from a bit of clanging dishes and reading lights on here and there it's blessedly quiet.

The (handsome) purser came around with an enormous menu to take the "Heavy Snack" order. Choice was Western or Korean. I do not remember the details of "Western" but the main entrée was either beef tenderloin in a peppercorn sauce or seared sea bass. The Korean meal was bibimbop. The western meal had a separate salad course but the Korean, my choice, came all one one tray - rice, side dishes, and the main ingredients. The soup was missing because the oven they were using to heat it was not working. The bibimbop was fantastic - veggies very fresh and the meat tender. One of the better airline meals I have had. Cheese and fruit course was next, which was unremarkable; then dessert, equally unremarkable (cheap lemon tart). They completed all of this within 1 hr. after takeoff and shut the lights off - wish United could learn this lesson on their evening departure SFO-LHR! I typically do not drink when flying but they claimed to have "red" and "white" wines available. Judging from the bottle labels I saw in passing, those descriptions were generous

I literally slept through almost until breakfast. I got up to use the facilities and found my seat was not working - it was in the reclined "sleep" position and the electronic seat controls would not respond. I had to curl myself out of it and asked the purser to take a look while I went to the lav. They have a few amenities in the lavatories - but not many. Apparently all of them are upon request with the cabin crew but I did not actually NEED anything so I did not try it out.

When I came out, I was lightly amused to find 2 flight attendants, the purser and the first officer who had come out to use the lav all trying to fix the seat. In the end they manually pushed it up and asked me to sit in the aisle seat - since I did not have a seatmate I was happy to do that. I slept a bit more, watched Elizabethtown and then breakfasted started, about 2 hrs before landing.

Breakfast was western only - choice of either spinach crepes or dried fruit blintz. I was also surprised there was not a cold option available but later learned they do have it upon request. Why is everything upon request on OZ? I thought the latter, dried fruit blintz, sounded rather interesting and so I ordered that. Breakfast started with a setup of fruit and warm breads, then the main warm course came out. The dried fruit blintzes were EXCELLENT - so much so that I would like to recreate them at home. The filling basically consisted of walnuts, dried cranberries, apricots and dates, and maybe something else, then topped with a sort of "crepes suzette-style" sauce. They were very, very good. They were served with potatoes and ham - once I added the Korean pepper paste the otherwise flat potatoes sang with flavor

Our flight was topped off with the smoothest landing I have ever experienced - even seated in the front cabin, we barely felt/heard the front gear touch down. I was quite impressed.

Overall, Asiana: A, maybe A+. I would DEFINITELY fly with them again particularly because Seoul is such a pleasant airport to connect.

I had a 2.5 hr connection in Seoul, waiting for my next flight - TG 3XX to BKK. I hung out in the Singapore Raffles lounge - wow! What a great space - amazing food options, good views of the airport ops, big area to spread out, etc. I had a few small snacks there but was still basically full from the Asiana breakfast. I then boarded:

TG 3XX (sorry, do not remember the number), ICN-BKK
Sked Dep, ICN: 9:40A
Actual Dep, ICN: 9:55A
Sked Arr, BKK: 1:40P
Actual Arr, BKK: 1:55P

This is a 2-class 330-300. I was somewhat disappointed in the seat - once again window in biz class - as it was hard and not very cozy, especially compared to the OZ seat. Still, for a 6 hr flt it worked. It has a rather useless leg rest, but was otherwise at least practical. Would not want to be on it for much longer tho, and I think the 333 does mostly regional duty. This flight was packed in both classes.

Was offered pre-departure drinks from a tray. We took off a bit late and were routed out over the South China Sea - apparently a longer route for this flight, according to the captain - and landed in BKK a few minutes late.

The meal was very disappointing - I had high expectations for my first TG flight, and they fell flat on their face. First, the "menu" was hand-scribbled on a postcard and they passed it around. The choices were, as described: prawn, lamb, chicken. No idea of the sauce or accompaniments. I chose prawns.

They dealt the trays out quickly - salads, bread, the typical setup. Then came the main courses. Blech, and I mean that. It was a small bowl consisting of about 6 TINY prawns in some sticky brown sauce, dried out sushi rice (why sushi rice??) and steamed cabbage. The prawns had a strong smell of fish to them and I did not try even one - ate the rice and steamed cabbage. They told me later when they saw I had not eaten the prawns that they were in a bulgogi-style sauce. I thought strange but who am I to critique. My seat-mate had ordered the lamb and aside from the fact his was obviously lamb, they looked identical.

They then served cheese and fruit, then dessert. I do not remember much about either except to say - better off bringing your own lunch and flying coach on TG. Maybe it was just a poor showing for their food quality.

The approach and landing was quite hurried - we were on route to land at about 2:10 when suddenly at 1:40, the plane started descending and turning wildly and when I looked up the flight attendants were scurrying around the cabin like ants on a picnic basket. We landed 10-12 minutes ahead of what the captain told us only 30 minutes earlier - not sure if ATC pushed them for an earlier slot or if they were just not paying attention (sort of felt like the latter). OH! That's the airport!

We landed quite fast - the air show on the screen showed about 175, when I am used to seeing 140-150.

Overall rating for Thai: C+.

That's it for now - my next flight will be TG, BKK-DEL also in business class. Trip report on that later...